Chapter 35 Grace #2
Both Connor and Rawley put “haha” reactions on it, and now Rawley speaks up.
RAWLEY: Get ready to party, Con. Going to be a timeee after the game is over. Need to show my little bro what it’s like to go to a real school.
CONNOR: I’m pretty sure I partied enough with you last year **as a high schooler** to know what to expect.
CONNOR: Does this mean you’re not going to ask me to do your homework this time?
RAWLEY: BURN.
RAWLEY: Gracie, I promise I never actually asked him to do my homework.
RAWLEY: In college anyway.
LANDON: There will be no partying. Only football. Don’t fuck up Rawls.
RAWLEY: Yeah, yeah, I was joking.
RAWLEY: How’s your tan, big bro?
Landon sends a photo of Rori, Grover, and him in response, and it’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him look. They’re of course sporting perfect tans, and Grover is licking Rori’s face.
GRACE: Awwww so cute.
RAWLEY: To be clear, she’s talking about Grover, not you.
I laugh too loud for the library, and with a few stares coming my way, I decide to get out of here and walk to my class early.
This class is less engaging (advanced statistics is hardly sizzling stuff), but when I walk out, my good mood has held.
It’s helped by the fact that I’m headed back to Johnson’s tonight—I have no classes on Fridays, so we’re going to relax for the rest of his week off. I’d packed a large duffle bag when we left my condo after the storm, so I don’t have to go back and forth.
I have one last appointment first though, at three—a one-to-one Zoom meeting with Lily that she’d asked us all to set up as a mid-semester check-in before starting on our final essays.
I grab a small study room back at the library and sign into zoom. She joins a few seconds later.
“Hi Grace, I’ve been looking forward to this.”
“Me too.” After we make a little small talk about our hurricane experiences, I walk through my essay idea.
“Based on what I’ve seen Landon navigate, I’m interested in exploring improvements to the educational tools we give new players to help them make financial decisions.
The business managers understand the dynamics of different investments and strategies, but it’s really tough for players to digest all the information.
Granted, Landon doesn’t have a manager yet, but the numbers he’s been given by his accountant are total gibberish to him half the time.
I think we can update the look, feel, and scope of financial plans to be more digestible and less intimidating. ”
She looks pleased. “Oh, that’s an excellent paper idea, Grace. I love that.”
“New players interest me most because so much is still up in the air about the longevity of their careers. The goal would be to have a presentation framework that could be used with each new athlete to help them make good decisions. Decisions that they feel like they understand.”
“Great, I fully approve. Let’s talk through some resources I would suggest checking out.”
She whips through some recommendations that I jot down. I’m thrilled she’s so behind the idea. I’ll be finishing my MBA on a high note.
As I’m about to say goodbye at the end of the session, she jumps in. “One more thing, Grace. Do you know what you’re going to do after graduation?”
“I’m actively looking, but I don’t have anything firm yet, no,” I admit.
She nods. “I don’t know what your career goals are, but listening to you speak so passionately about your project popped a connection in my mind.
A professional colleague—he’s also a business manager for athletes—is moving to Orlando from L.A.
, and reached out to me the other day asking how he might be able to find a junior colleague to help him here.
His clients are primarily soccer players, so I don’t know if that matters to you. ”
“Oh wow. My youngest brother is a soccer player at Princeton and has been in the USMNT youth program for years. I love the sport.”
“That’s great. I’ll give Milo your contact information, if that is okay? Milo Cantera is his name. His boyfriend is a coach for the Major League Soccer team here, which is why he’s moving.”
“I would love to talk to him. Thank you so much for thinking of me, Lily.”
She smiles as we sign off, and when I close my computer and start packing up, I can’t help the intuitive shiver that runs up my spine, like something important just happened.
I’m ready to go tell Johnson all about it when I get to his house.
“Grace!” I hear as soon as I step out of the building where I met Lily. Looking up, I see Jessica.
“Hey, you here for a class?” She nods and we chat as I walk with her toward her destination. Not in any rush, because I told Johnson I’d be at his place closer to five, and she’s twenty minutes early herself.
“So,” she says in a not-so-quiet whisper. “How’s it going with Johnson?”
I look around and see no one close enough to hear her, thankfully.
“It’s so good, Jess. He asked me to be his girlfriend.”
“Oh my god! But still secretly?”
“Still a secret, yes. I don’t mind, though. We’ve gotten a chance to know each other quietly, and I think that’s been a good thing for me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’ve not had the best dating luck. Nothing bad, just no guy’s really interested me enough before to get emotionally invested. This time, with him, it’s the complete opposite. And having no one aware we’re dating has given me space to get comfortable with how serious it’s becoming.”
Her face shifts from a teasing expression to a thoughtful one. “So you really like him? As in, you see a possibility of it lasting for the long term?”
“I do.” It’s the first time I’ve thought so directly about that question, but I don’t have to search hard for my response.
“Well, I’m happy for you. Both of you.” We’ve reached the location of her class, and she gives me a hug. “I should get in and grab a seat, but call me anytime you want to talk more.”
As she retreats into the building, I consider grabbing a tea at the cafeteria before heading to my car. Only when I check my phone, I see an unexpected message from Johnson.
JOHNSON: Change in plans, Goldie. Get here as soon as you can.